Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul on August 19, 2026. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

China maintains continuity and stability in its foreign policy and remains committed to playing a constructive role in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday during his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in response to inquiry regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He added that China welcomes the ROK and the DPRK gradually moving toward peaceful coexistence and ultimately achieving lasting peace and stability on the peninsula.

During their meeting, Wang also said that China and South Korea should demonstrate strategic vision and work to ensure the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Wang expressed hope that South Korea, based on its fundamental interests, pursues an independent foreign policy and develops relations with other countries in parallel without conflict.

For his part, Cho said that the ROK has consistently adhered to the one-China policy since the establishment of diplomatic relations and looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China and promoting the continued improvement and development of ROK-China relations across all fields. 

"We hope to further strengthen high-level exchanges by taking President Lee Jae-myung's attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen this November and the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year as opportunities," Cho said.

Ending a five-year gap, Wang started his visit to South Korea from Wednesday. 

Chinese observers said Seoul holds expectations for Wang's visit amid shifts across Northeast Asia, and the trip underscores the importance of bilateral ties as the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries approaches.

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea Cho Hyun and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Sugiono, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit South Korea and Indonesia from August 19 to 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

President Lee Jae-myung will also meet Wang at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday, The Korea Herald reported on Wednesday.

The visit, ahead of the APEC meeting in Shenzhen in November, is expected to serve as an opportunity to review the achievements of the full restoration of relations and to fully prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges, the South Korean foreign ministry said. 

When asked about China's expectations for Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Wednesday that China and the ROK are neighbors and cooperation partners. The all-round rapid growth of bilateral ties, since diplomatic relations were established 34 years ago, has delivered tangible benefits to both peoples and contributed to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region. 

We believe Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit will boost efforts on both sides to deliver on the important common understandings between the two presidents, strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen exchange and cooperation, and make new progress in the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership, Lin added.

Wang's trip marks his first visit to South Korea in five years since he last came to Seoul for bilateral talks with his South Korean counterpart in September 2021, Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday. The previous talks between Wang and Cho took place in September last year on the sidelines of the APEC forum in South Korean southeastern city of Gyeongju, the report said.

Dong Xiangrong, senior research fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that August 24 marks the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. With the anniversary approaching, Wang's visit highlights the importance of bilateral relations, which have generally developed steadily over the past 34 years and delivered tangible benefits to both peoples.

On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing also published an opinion piece in The Korea Times, writing that under the new circumstances, both sides should build on the current momentum, reinforce what is positive, address what needs to be improved and work together to keep bilateral relations healthy, stable and moving upward.

⁠China and South Korea have already conducted a number of high-level exchanges, with Lee Jae-myung making his first visit to China since taking office in January. Dong noted that such interactions underscore the need for continued coordination in the future diplomatic engagements.

This visit takes place at a critical juncture, against the backdrop of significant shifts across Northeast Asia, Zheng Jiyong, a professor from Tianjin Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"Lee is positioning himself for the next phase of South Korea's domestic political landscape, changes in the external environment, including the relation with China, exert substantial influence on South Korea's domestic politics," Zheng said. For all these reasons, Seoul attaches great importance to Wang's visit and has high expectations.